From: "Thalcos"
Subject: Re: Atlantic Storm by Avalon Hill
GSCHLOESSR wrote in message
<19971231194601.OAA01835@ladder02.news.aol.com>...
>Anyone heard much about this new release from Avalon Hill? It seems like a card
>based game, and the ads tout it as reminiscent of Titan: The Arena. It also is
>a multi-player game. Many in our group (The Westbank Gamers) tend to be more
>wargame oriented, so I think this may suit their tastes. However, I'd like to
>hear more from people who have experienced it.
>
>Greg Schloesser
>The Westbank Gamers
>http://members.aol.com/GSCHLOESSR/index.html
In Atlantic Storm, players fight for 20 convoys during the game (there are
40 total, but only half are used in each game). Convoys are specific to
either to North Atlantic or Arctic oceans, as well as to a certain year.
Some convoys are worth a lot of points, others give winning players
additional reinforcements.
In each hand, a player can come out as German or Allied, so players will be
constantly switching sides during the game. Using one of four declared
"suits" -- air, sea, underwater, or combined -- each player plays a ship,
u-boat, experimental weapon, whatever until all players have played. The
person who contributed the most to the winning side gets the convoy and any
sunken ships. Table diplomacy plays a fairly big role in the game -- though
your allies are likely to change from round to round.
That's the basic game -- there is more to it, as several cards are destined
to sink specific ships, and many cards have special abilities (Raid on St.
Nazaire, 2nd Happy Time, various admirals, et cetera). It plays fast (about
an hour or so) and is simple enough that even players not familiar with WWII
will figure it out and enjoy it. "Wargamers" will appreciate the nuances of
each ship and event in the game.
It's a very different game from Titan: The Arena, though both are equally
fun. Atlantic Storm is definitely the more involved of the two games, but
not by too much. More information and card art is available at
http://www.avalonhill.com/astorm.html
Atlantic Storm got delayed at the printers, so look for it sometime in
January.
-J.C.